Announcing LinkedIn News, Redesigned Homepage & more — The past few weeks have seen the release of a slew of features that have helped augment your experience of LinkedIn; features ranging from refined network updates to the ability to add a photo to your profile.

LinkedIn launches platform — a better business social network — LinkedIn has just launched its own developer platform and a new design that promises to make it more useful to its millions of business users. — Earlier this year, many wondered if social network Facebook would overtake LinkedIn as a business network destination.

LinkedIn Needs to ReachOut — Professional networking service LinkedIn wants to emulate Facebook's success by drawing users and applications through the use of a similar portal strategy. But LinkedIn's best chance at success lies in doing just the opposite: reaching out to other web sites and applications.

Microsoft Delivers Office Live Workspace Beta — Microsoft Office Director of Consumer and Small Business Product Management Kirk Gregersen discusses the public beta of Office Live Workspace, an online extension to Office that provides new Web storage and collaboration capabilities.

The Second Coming — Michael Dell is back in charge of the troubled computer company he founded 23 years ago. He's already shaken things up. But can he bring back the magic? — His first official day back as chief executive, after stepping away for two and a half years, was Feb. 2.

Are You a Video Sensation? YouTube Wants to Give You Money — After a long period of soul searching, YouTube has expanded its partnership program to allow anyone in the United States and Canada to apply for acceptance. The partnership program, launched in May, allows users to earn a share of ad revenue on the site.

NYTimes Surges, Cnet Slumps — Ever since the NYTimes.com swept away the last remaining boulders of its subscription pay wall (aka Times Select) in mid-September, its traffic has been going through the roof. According to comScore, it gained 7.5 million readers worldwide from the end …

In Memoriam: Marc Orchant — I received the news around 3PM today that my closest friend, business associate, co-conspirator, sometime mentor, sometime — protege and full time confidante had passed away a week after suffering a massive heart attack at his home in New Mexico. He was 50 years old.

NBC Rings Up Holiday Refunds — NBC has quietly begun reimbursing advertisers for fourth-quarter prime-time ratings shortfalls, averaging about $500,000 per advertiser, according to media buyers, marking the first time in years a network has taken such a step to compensate marketers for ratings deficiencies.

Apple Ultra-Portable MacBook Rumor Roundup — As rumors start to build for Macworld San Francisco 2008, the most consistent rumor appears to be one of an ultra-portable Apple notebook computer. — These rumors started back in March 2006 by MacScoop who indicated that "very reliable" …